Chapter 196

The long yet short vacation came to an end, and school was approaching.

Looking back, I couldn’t help but feel that vacation was indeed too short. Did I spend it busier than I expected?

Anyway, even with the new school year upon us, there’s a mountain of tasks left undone. Especially with year-end approaching as a crucial turning point.

I plan to be thoroughly prepared by then. With only one colorless magic circle left, all I need to do is finish the build-up.

‘I’ll have to start pressuring the council member who hooked Rod on this.’

Rod, the academy’s biggest power player, is currently regaining his original strength.

To avoid suspicion, he’s continuously receiving poison from the council member, but he passed it all on.

To whom did he pass it? To Eli. Even though it’s poison, it can be used as an antidote if handled well.

Originally, the line between medicine and poison is just a piece of paper apart. Thanks to that, Eli’s skills are improving day by day.

‘I’ve also invested on the side, so I shouldn’t have to worry.’

Right before school started, I went to Eli and handed over a fortune. With that, she should be able to buy some good herbs.

Of course, initially, Eli stubbornly refused. After all, this seemed a bit much even for her.

It was tough persuading her for a bit, but I managed to get through. I said it was for everyone, not just me, and she accepted it willingly.

‘The raid will happen at year-end.’

And not on an ordinary day, but a globally significant one.

In terms of Earth, it’s Christmas, the day the god of life was born in this world.

The academy will prepare thoroughly, but that’s what leads to a tremendous tragedy.

‘As for the demons that come scouting in between, I just need to deal with them.’

Demons aren’t fools; they’ll come to scout. They’ll likely check the status of the magic circles.

If they realize the plan is awry, the difficulty will spike suddenly. And I mean a lot.

So as long as I handle the scouting forces well, they won’t have a clue. The demons won’t send any more scouts either.

They’ll just chalk it up to bad luck that they got caught. If they send more, they’ll attract unnecessary suspicion, so they’ll just carry on.

‘But that damned crown prince is a problem.’

There are already too many people to keep an eye on, and now the crown prince is thrown into the mix, giving me a headache.

Karas has such a bizarre mindset even the average weirdos wouldn’t dare approach him.

Him coming into the academy is something that hasn’t happened even in the Soul World, so no one knows what will happen.

‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen Karas put in any real effort, huh?’

Karas’s strength can be explained like this: he can protect his own body reasonably well.

He’s someone who plays the political game like Danyerin, making him harder to gauge.

Moreover, the academy prioritizes strength over politics, so it’ll be tough for him to shine.

‘What on earth was he thinking when he enrolled?’

I adjusted my clothing as I looked at myself in the mirror.

It was a short-sleeved dress shirt, fitting for the sweltering summer. The material also allowed for good ventilation.

The academy’s summer boasts a brutal heat, but the air conditioning works well, so it should still be comfortable.

‘It’s the perfect environment for the life in the forest to thrive.’

Even now, the Chaos Forest is off-limits. But that should change soon.

I’ve been steadily marking the territory with Porori, and the number of monsters popping out from inside has decreased.

That suggests there’s likely a new predator that has emerged within.

I was a bit curious about what that predator might be, but I have no intention of going there. Whether I kill it or not, either way, it’s a big deal.

‘I’ll probably find plenty of good herbs.’

It looks like it’s going to be a busy summer. I finished all my preparations and stepped outside.

As soon as I stepped out, the warm sunlight greeted me. Again, warm sunlight.

It’s not hot enough yet. It’ll take about a month for it to get hot enough to start roasting my skin.

‘At least it’s not humid; that’s a relief.’

If it had been humid, it would’ve been hell itself. Even Karas would have a hard time enduring it.

I headed toward the classroom, lost in my thoughts. The classrooms are the same, despite the changing semesters.

As I was about to enter the main hall, I heard a voice.

“Sivar?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s been a while.”

I unexpectedly ran into someone. A lady with striking pink hair.

Her appearance was unforgettable after just one glance, but something felt off. The pink-haired person I remembered had a slim figure.

“How have you been?”

“Umm…”

I couldn’t respond to her greeting right away. My gaze was fixed on one area.

Specifically, her chest. Contrary to what I remembered, she had quite a voluptuous body.

Not that it was enormous, but it definitely had a size that showcased her feminine charm. Definitely bigger than Luna’s.

“…Eli?”

“You remember me.”

The pink-haired vegan Eli smiled softly at my greeting.

I couldn’t help but be confused by her response. What on earth happened in such a short time?

I could understand her wearing a nun’s habit instead of a school uniform due to being a priest, but the material looked different from before.

It seemed quite stretchy, just like what Rize wore. Thus, her curvaceous figure was fully on display.

“…Is that really you, Eli?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“You seem quite different…”

I couldn’t continue my words. She had changed a great deal, both in appearance and aura.

Originally, she was a rather naive character who came off as a problem; but now it was different.

Her expression showed she’d grasped the realities of the world. She exuded an unwavering sense of compassion and resilience.

“Is that so? I’ve learned a lot from my teacher, so it’s possible.”

“…What did you learn?”

“I learned about the essence of life. If it weren’t for their guidance, I might have gone down the wrong path.”

I sent her off feeling a bit sorry for her, and now I wondered what exactly she had done. Her growth, especially in the chest area, made me even more anxious.

After that, Eli and I chatted about various trivial topics until she wandered off to another place. Since we were in different classes, it was only natural we parted ways.

As I watched her disappear, I tilted my head in confusion. If I had the chance, I should probably hear the rumors from her class.

‘If I hear anything about muscle, then I’m 100% sure.’

What have I created? No, more importantly, how did Rize manage to transform Eli?

My mind was filled with confusion, but I quickly snapped back to reality. I already have enough on my plate; any new additions would just make things dizzying.

Creak—

I opened the door to the familiar classroom. As soon as I entered, all eyes turned toward me.

I was used to the attention, so I didn’t mind as I moved forward.

“Hey. Doesn’t his face look a bit different?”

“Yeah. He used to look like a kid.”

“Is he younger than expected?”

A few students murmured, noticing the changes in my appearance.

It only made sense; I had changed a lot. I was starting to show signs of maturity, as if I had entered puberty.

Unlike a reversal in appearance, it was more of a natural progression, so in that aspect, I was fortunate.

“So, they say he jumped off from the dorm, right? What’s that all about?”

“Well, the rumors say he got sick? They said he had a severe fever.”

“Oh, I think I read something similar in a book. Someone immune to a specific disease spread an epidemic after going elsewhere. Is it something like that?”

A few students chatted about my leap from the dormitory.

Given that I fell from the dorm, it was indeed strange for no rumors to circulate.

Having been hospitalized for several days and even having coughed up blood, there was more than enough reason for word to spread.

“Is he really the top student upon admission? Is that true?”

“Yep. I saw it clearly.”

“Wow. No wonder they seemed close. Is the barbarian involved too?”

However, there were whispers that irked me. Hearing those words made me furrow my brows.

If I had my way, I wouldn’t want to hear such talk. But my unusually good hearing forced me to listen.

Not to mention, the language automatically translated in my mind, making it all the more irritating. It wasn’t even a common tongue but a completely different language.

‘Could it be better than outright slander?’

I suppressed my irritation as I took my seat. It was the same spot I’d occupied throughout the first semester.

“Hey. How’s it going now that the vacation is over?”

“Annoying.”

“Looks like we’re on the same page.”

Karas sat down next to me, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Typically, female students wear skirts, but Karas stood out by wearing pants.

The laid-back and bold image suited her, so there wasn’t an ounce of awkwardness.

‘As for her feminine qualities…’

Well, they’re all covered by the dancer’s outfit, so let’s leave it at that.

After that, familiar faces gradually gathered, and the atmosphere began to feel just like before.

“Oh, hello. It’s been a while…”

“Oh, Grace’s friend is here. How was your vacation?”

“Good.”

“What did you do?”

“I helped out a bit with chores back home.”

Among them was Lee Yeon-joo, who replied to Kara’s endless questions with her typical timid expression.

That “chores” probably referred to rebel activities. I figured she was still steadily gaining strength.

Creak—

As I chatted warmly with the familiar members, the door opened, and the usual silence fell.

But the following tense silence was different. As I sensed the atmosphere, I turned my head.

And just as expected, someone I anticipated stepped slowly through the door.

“…Who is that person?”

“Uh, I don’t know? I’ve never seen her before.”

A few students panicked.

“Is the rumor true? The princess of the Hwan Empire is transferring here?”

“Why us of all places?”

Some seemed shocked, perhaps having heard the rumors.

Yes, just as everyone had predicted, Danyerin opened the door and confidently walked in.

With her signature updo and long lashes, she was as stunning as any Westerner.

Danyerin casually glanced around at the students and locked eyes with me. Then she smiled and nodded.

‘Another weird rumor is bound to circulate.’

I forced a bitter smile internally, bowing my head slightly. It was only polite to respond since she greeted me.

After acknowledging my greeting, Danyerin moved to a spot closer to the board.

Thanks to that, her elegantly styled updo caught my eye. It must be hard to maintain; did Yeohye do her hair?

‘That aside…’

I shifted my gaze, focusing on Lee Yeon-joo.

Currently, all eyes were on Danyerin. So, there wasn’t a chance to examine Yeon-joo’s expression.

And just as I’d feared, Lee Yeon-joo’s expression was quite fierce. To exaggerate, it seemed like she could kill someone.

“….”

“….”

“…?”

When I stared blankly, did Lee Yeon-joo feel my gaze? She turned to meet my eyes.

The moment she did, her eyes widened in shock.

She even started touching her face. It was a clear sign of her losing composure.

I watched her actions, tilting my head in confusion. By now, she should have noticed.

Creak—

“Um! Is this a classroom? It’s quite spacious!”

“….”

What a perfect timing. Just when the whispers about Danyerin were barely fading.

Karas burst into the room energetically as he opened the door. Naturally, all eyes drifted toward him.

“Huh? Wait a second. No way, right?”

“I saw that face at the freshman gala. But why is he here…?”

“What’s going on all of a sudden?”

The students’ reactions were pretty self-explanatory.

“…What is that guy doing there?”

“I, I have no idea…”

Danyerin had some news, so everyone was somewhat accepting of it. But not for Karas.

His transfer was completely unexpected, throwing everyone into chaos.

Even Grace seemed surprised, indicating she hadn’t heard about Karas transferring.

It must have been quiet, and it implies Karas’s information lockdown was pretty strong.

‘At least he doesn’t seem interested in me.’

Seems he’s more focused on the classroom itself, just loitering around aimlessly.

His eccentric demeanor was quite evident. I did my best to avoid making eye contact with him.

The moment our eyes meet, it would just complicate matters. Right now, I had to pretend not to be aware.

“It’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“Uh, y-yes?!”

“I asked for your name.”

I offer my condolences to the student sitting next to the crown prince.

Whether he wants it or not, he’ll be the center of attention from every possible angle. Karas attracts attention differently than I do.

‘Maybe this will help divert some attention?’

That’s what I initially thought. Until Luna and Grace came in, that is.

Even when Luna walked in, there were whispers from the back, but once Grace entered, they intensified dramatically.

“I heard you slept with the top student on admission? The committee is changing regulations regarding living arrangements with that woman?”

“He’s got abilities too. What is he seeing to go that far?”

“Maybe he just couldn’t help tasting it?”

That’s not a common language. From the looks of them, Grace and Luna aren’t reacting, so it’s not Matra Empire language either.

It’s a completely different language. I turned around to hear the lewd comments.

Behind me stood a group of students with rather dubious appearances, huddled together.

They didn’t differentiate between men and women, but one male was standing out in the center. I recognized his face for reasons I didn’t know.

“Hey. Is he staring at us?”

“So what? It’s not like he can understand us anyway.”

“True. But still, he’s lucky. He’s already sleeping around with girls.”

“Wild man or not, it just means he’s got the best abilities.”

I’m starting to get fed up. I turned my head away, trying to avoid it all.

Hearing such things would only pile stress on me. They say if you endure three times, you can prevent murder.

“And who knows? The top student might spill it all.”

“In that case, what about that noble lady?”

“She was almost assaulted but got saved. Maybe as thanks, she gave it up.”

“How lucky. If I were the one who saved her, how great would that be?”

I held my breath for the third time. Hearing these idiots chuckle just fumed me.

The bigger issue was that others had no idea about the conversation. That was a slapstick comedy created by a language barrier.

Ordinarily, humans tend to stick close to those with whom they can communicate. That’s a natural occurrence.

But this was just a gathering of the foolish; a bunch of idiots hanging with a fellow idiot.

‘For the sake of the opening ceremony, I’ll let it slide. Rod said not to make a scene.’

I had no idea how things would turn out if I created a ruckus. This situation isn’t even property damage.

This could lead straight to the disciplinary committee. Then things would get tangled up.

Honestly, I’d like to turn off my translation ability. Ignorance might just be bliss.

“Why is the principal helping that wild man?”

“Is that really it?”

“What?”

“The principal has no children, and his relationships are clean, right? And that wild man is pretty good looking. So…”

“….”

That’s enough. I won’t stand for it any longer. Truly, words can be terrifying.

I sighed deeply and stood up. I could endure someone having a go at me, but bringing others into it made me furious.

Following that, when I stood up, the people around me looked at me with puzzled expressions. I ignored them completely.

Step, step, step—

Naturally, I headed straight towards the group that had been gossiping.

They were so busy talking that they hadn’t even noticed I was approaching. They seemed oblivious to my presence.

“Hey.”

“Uh?”

Finally realizing I was there, the idiots turned to face me. They all wore confused faces.

In that instant, the atmosphere in the classroom fell silent. Every gaze that had been on Danyerin and Karas shifted toward me.

Of course, it made sense since I was the one approaching first. This rarely happened.

“Sivar. What’s up? What did these guys say?”

Kara approached quickly, sensing something was off.

Placing a hand on my shoulder was a sign she’d step in if needed.

Tap—

I brushed her hand away lightly. I could sense her surprise behind me.

In the meantime, I turned to the fools in front of me and spoke as if nothing had happened, using a neutral tone.

“I heard everything.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“Everything. Not a single thing was missed.”

The fools looked stunned at my claim that I’d heard every single thing.

Among them, the ringleader stuttered as he spoke, hurrying to make excuses.

“W-what are you talking about? You understand our language? You’re just a guy who can’t even speak the common tongue.”

“Y-yeah, he’s right. This idiot said something strange, didn’t he?”

“Heh, surprising huh? A dumbass blabbering dumb talk, of course.”

The others spoke in their native language, evidently believing I wouldn’t understand.

If I had the chance, I’d like to respond in their language. However, while I could comprehend what they said, I did not know how to speak it.

“Y-yeah, this ass said something strange, right?”

“…Huh?”

“Heh, surprising, huh? An idiot is just saying idiotic things.”

“…What?”

And so, I translated for them. It seemed they never expected me to do it, and they froze in shock.

Suddenly, the atmosphere dropped cold. A deadly silence enveloped the classroom.

There would surely be talks about my language skills, but that was a matter for later after I dealt with these idiots.

“Any words to say?”

“Uh… that is…”

“Nothing, right?”

I often find myself pondering this. The main difference between a beast and a human is the ability to use language, after all.

However, at least beasts don’t just shit in their mouth. Only humans can engage in such revolting behaviors.

Bam!

I grabbed the ringleader’s head and slammed it down onto the desk. It all happened so fast, he wouldn’t even have had time to react.

From behind, Kara gasped in shock, trying to stop me, but it was too late. I had already made up my mind.

“Ugh… Ugh?!”

When he screamed and opened his mouth, I seized the moment to shove my hand inside.

With that, I firmly caught his repulsive tongue before he could even process it. I could easily grip it with my pinky and thumb.

“What, what are you doing?! Calm down! It’s dangerous to act like this!”

“Calm down, Sivar! I don’t know what he said, but please, calm down first!”

As the atmosphere became increasingly heated, more people joined in trying to stop me. But I didn’t care.

This guy would keep talking nonsense with his mouth. Seeing he would ramble regardless of the language barrier solidified my conviction.

So, all I had to do was clasp his mouth shut. It was akin to sealing up his rear end.

Of course, that would surely create problems later. But anyone who acts like they don’t mind shitting openly is less than human.

‘What do I care if a beast can’t speak?’

Besides, what comes out of their mouths is less than the sound of beasts. It’s just noise made by inadequate beings.

I thought to myself as I yanked his tongue down forcefully. He flailed around, but it was in vain.

If it were up to me, I’d pull it right out and take it with me.

“Oof! Ouch!”

“J-just a moment! We did wrong! Please just let it go this time!”

“Y-yeah! It’s a mistake! We’ll be quiet next time…!”

Were they thinking they were the next target? Other idiots began to plead.

I stared at them, then scanned the room. Everyone’s gaze was locked on the scene.

Except for my acquaintances, no one was stepping in to defend them. It seemed these idiots had a terrible reputation.

Or perhaps they assumed it wasn’t their business. I couldn’t care less.

“A mistake?”

“Y-yeah! Just a mistake…!”

*Crack!*

A very ominous sound came from the hand that was gripping his tongue. I tilted my head curiously toward the sound.

I saw half of his tongue now in my hand. The owner of that tongue collapsed, holding his mouth in shock.

I stared at the bloodied piece of flesh while responding nonchalantly.

“Oh.”

“Ahhhhh! Ahh!!”

Whether he was screaming and bleeding all over or not.

“Mistake.”

I kept my unapologetic demeanor.

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